Apparatus for traversing draperies and the like



April 1956 H. BRADLEY 2,741,923

APPARATUS FOR TRAVERSING DRAPERIES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Haze; 0 5154045) April 17, 1956 H. BRADLEY 2,741,923

APPARATUS FOR TRAVERSING DRAPERIES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P Q Q Q 2 I r to? 25 $5 Fi J0 INVENTOR.

f/xwma Exmpzzr APPARATUS FOR TRAVERSING DRAPERIES AND THE LIKE Harold Bradley, Staten Island, N. Y., assignor to The 'Bradley Rotor Traverse Company, Incorporated, Staten Island, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 20, 1951, Serial No. 207,017

1 Claim. (Cl. 74-25) This invention relates to traversing mechanism for material and particularly to an apparatus usable in conjunction with flexible and portable closures, partitions and panels, especially draperies, such as curtains and the I like. i

As mentioned in applicants copending application, SerialNo. 660,926, filed April 10, 1946, now Pat: ent No. 2,538,755, over which this inventionfis an improvement in some features, various means have been provided in prior practice for moving, controllingand mounting the apparatus. It is desirable in the manufacture of devices of the type contemplated herein to employmeans and structure which will be economical to manufacture and to install. One problem where draperies or other types of closures are used is the provision of means to preserve an equal distribution of'the draperies at all points of closure or opening thereof. It is desirable to be able to control the position of the closure from a remote point, such as by a pulley and chain, electric motor, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus for traversing draperies or the like in aman 2,741,923 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 Figure 8 is a schematicview showing one half of a drapery or the like traversing organization, the carriers being at one end of the rotatable shaft so that the closure is in open condition.

'Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8 with the exception I that the shaft has been rotated to partially extend the drapery, the carriers being evenly spaced relative to each other.

Figure 10 is similar to Figure 9 with the exception that the shaft has been further rotated so that the earriers may be assumed to be fully extended, the carriers still being equally or evenly spaced.

In one aspect of the invention, the carriers, hangers and various features can be used for controlling a flexible curtain, panel, or other similar device, as illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10. In this instance, an arrangement is shown where the drapery or closure panel suspended thereby can be moved from a closed position to a fully opened position in a manner such that equal fold effects or distance between the individual carriers will f be substantially identical at any particular point in the ner that will preserve equal distribution of the drapery,

so that it will hang in even folds.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hanging or support arrangement for the shaft of the traversing means herein so that the'carrier means will pass the support without stopping.

Another object is to provide a rigidsupport preventing undesirable deflection of the shaft, especially when a plurality of shaft sections are involved, the'supports and carriers being arranged so that the carriers can pass the supports.

Another object is to provide an improved traversing mechanism for moving material in a curved path of travel. 1

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a improved traversing material ,carrying hanger.

' These and other objects, advantagesand features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, it being understood that some of the aspects of the invention areapplicable to apparatus for carrying or traversing In the drawings: h p Figure 1 is a fragmentary View partially in section of one modification.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 5 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partially in section of another modification. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the material carrying hanger illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

material generally.

adjustment thereof, thus presenting an equal distribution of fullness thereof. The distance between carriers changes as the drapery is opened but is substantially the same between each of the carriers for each position. It is possible, of course, to have groups of carriers, the carriers in a group moving the same distance.

A rotatable shaft 20 (Figure 8) isjsuitably suspended and arranged to be rotated by a pulley 21 or the like, the rotating means being operated manually or by a motor. Carrier frames 22A to 22F inclusive, are carried by the rotatable shaft 20, hooks 23 on the various carrier frames being arranged to be connected to the drapery or other closure means involved, The carrier' driving means 24 in the various material carrier frames can be mounted on axes on their carriers at different angles relative to the axis of shaft 20 as will be explained hereafter. 1

Upon rotation of the shaft '20, the material carrier frames 22A to 22F, inclusive, will be moved away from wall or point 25 so that they will be the same distance apart (Figure 9) at any given instant. As rotation of the shaft 20 is continued, the material carrier frames movedby the carrier driving means mounted thereon will continue in an outward movement relative to the end 25 of the mechanism until they reach, for example, a fully extended position illustrated in Figure 10. By mounting the carrier driving means at varying angles relative to the axis of shaft 20, the various carriers will move at different rates so as to provide the effect illustrated in V bent or formed so that when it is freely suspended on Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tandem drive material carrying means. V

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan or elevation view partially cut away showing a curved shaft arrangement.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view partially in section of an adjustable length shaft arrangement.

the shaft, there will be an opening 26 (Figure 2, 4) at the top thereof between the two legs of the frame. The carrier frames 27 (Figures 2 and 4) are provided with downwardly extending portions at the bottom of which can be suitably mounted a hook or other connecting means 28. The frames or the carrier can be formed from flat strip, such as brass, steel, or can be made from plastic.

The material carrying frames or carriers have carrier driving means or rollers 29 mounted on suitable axes 30 thereon, the angle of the axes being arranged so as to produce'the desired movement. The rollers, which may a be hard surfaced, can take any desired form, but preferably are spherical elements. The rollers are mounted in suitable apertures in a carrier. Theballs may be made of brass, steel, wood, plastic .or other suitable material. The halls should rotatably and yet slidably contact the shaft, the balls being slidable .on the shaft when the end of the travel of the drapery .ormaterialis reached. The angles of the axis of the rollers relative'to theshaft axis on a carrier are equal and arein the same direction as can be seen in Figure 4.

When the hanger is mounted on the shaft and the shaft is rotated, the rollers will be correspondingly rotated by frictional contact with the shaft and thus the material carrier in which they are mounted will move in an axial direction along the shaft depending .upon the direction of rotation of the driving shaft. .The rollers are mounted on axes which are less than 90 butgreater than relative to the shaft axes. .The greater the angle between the shaft axis and the roller axes, the greater will be the travel of the particular hanger .per revolution of the drive shaft. The rollers are angularly ,spacedabout the axis of the rotatable shaft in such a manner so as to support the carrier frame thereon. in the open form shown this is about 90 when under normal load .due to spring in the carrier. The angle such be such that the carrier will move properly on the shaft yet will stay thereon. Preferably, they should be less than 135 apart. As the tube diameter becomes smaller, the angle should be decreased.

One type of hanger support for the rotatable shaft is illustrated in'Figure 1, wherein the rotatable shaft tubes 31, 32 have apertured plugs 33 inserted in their juxtapositioned ends. A stub shaft or connector 34 having flattened end portions 35 can be inserted in apertures 36A in each of the plugs. The flattened portions 35 cooperate with suitable projections 36 in the plugs so that rotation of one portion of the shaft will rotate the stub shaft which in turn will cause rotation of the adjoining shaft member. The ends of the tubes 31, 32 and plugs 33 are spaced a distance A relative to each other forming a recess, and in this space or recess, the shank 3.7 of the shaft hanger support 38 is inserted. The shaft hanger support may have an aperture therein through which the shaft 34 rotatably passes. The portion of the shank surrounding the aperture, through which the shaft passes, must be less (as indicated at 37', (Figure 2) than the outside diameter of the shaft tubes 31, .32 so that the ball can pass from one tube to the other without being raised out of contact with both tubes at the same time for the reason that will be described hereafter.

Hanger support 38 maybe suitably adjustably mounted on a bracket 39 which can befastened at 40 to the wall, building, or other supporting structure. Various types of brackets can be used or the upper .face 41 of the hanger 33 can be directly mounted on the ceiling or other supporting surface. The width of the recess between the adjacent margins or ends of tube 31 and 32 is made such that the roller or ball 29 will pass from the end of one tube to the other tube so as to be driven by at least one of the tubes, the ball not passing out of contact with both portions of the rotating shaft at the same time. Such an arrangement provides for movement of the carrier frame 27 past the hanger shank 37. The width of the hanger shank 37 is made less than the distance between the open ends of the carrier frame .27 or the driving means thereon so that the carrier can pass by the shank without interference. The shank should be substantially vertical.

A second form of hanger support is illustrated in Figure 3 wherein the tubes 45, 46 have plugs 47 fitted therein, the outer surfaces 43 of plugs 47 being of substantially the same diameter as the outer surfaces of the rotatable shaft tubes 45, 46. A stub shaft or connecting member 49 is inserted into apertures 50 in plugs 47, the upper face 51 of the stub shaft being flattened and 4 the apertures correspondingly shaped. This, or an equivalent construction is used so that tube 45, plugs 47,

shaft 49 and tube 46 all will rotate as a unit when the shaft is driven. The stub shaft 49 may have shoulders 52 which will serve to space the plugs 47 and thus the ends of tubes 45 and 46. A hanger shank 53 having a bearing 54 can be mounted on a bushing 54 on stub shaft-'49. The opening 55 between the adjacent ends of the plugs 47 which define the recess between the operating portions of the shaft is made a distance B chosen so that the carrier frame driving means or rollers will pass from one margin to the other and Will be driven at all times, the driving means not passing out of contact with -shaft tubes 45, 46 at the same time. In other Words, the roller means .does not reach a position where it is free or disconnected at any time from a rotating shaft member.

;In another aspect of the invention, a tandem carrier frame can be employed such as illustrated in Figure .5 wherein the frame member 56 has a pair of roller .or driving means 57 mounted on axes 58 thereon. The extension 59 can be formed so as to receive a hook or other element (not shown) for carrying the material or drapery means which is to be supported thereby. When a tandem carrier isused, precision movement is provided because the carriercannot move out of line. Also, two full rollers will always be in contact with the shaft.

In some instances, it is desired to provide a simple arrangement for rotatable rods of relatively slight curvature and where straight rigid rotatable shaft portions are joined thereto. This can be accomplished by providing straight rigid shaft 60 (Figure 6) joined by .a relatively flexible rod 61A to the rigid rotatable shaft portion 61, said shafts 60, 61 and rod 61A being rotatable together. Collars 62 may be mounted on the solid flexible shaft 61A, theexterior diameter thereof being the same as the interior diameter of the flexible wound or coiled wire shaft member .63. The curvedflexible member 63 can be suitably fastened to shaft ends 60 and 61 or friction between the interior thereof and collars 62 can be used to drive the curved portion in unison with the rotatable shaft. The flexible shaft61A is arranged on an arc and of material such that the yield point thereof is not reached as it is rotated and bends during such rotation. As an example, when a radius of seven feet is employed, a flexible steel shaft of 4" diameter can be used.

Sometimes, it becomes desirable to provide adjustable shaft lengths so that the .main parts of the shaft can be cut from stocklengths. and adjustment made of the length when the mechanism is installed. As an example, thereof, shaft .64 (Figure 7) can have a plug 65 inserted into the end thereof, said plug having a set screw 66 joining the same to the rod 67, said rod 67 being adjustably slidable in aperture 68 in plug 65. Rod 67may have a collar or member 69 pinned thereto bYPin 71, said collar 69 having an annular shoulder 70 thereon. End support member 72 can be used to support rod 67 and thus the rotatable shaft. .An O-ring 69A, or similar means, can be placed in a groove to:frictionally hold the parts in position.

Adjustable shaft tube 73 is telescopically slidable relative to the rotatable shaft tube 64, tube 73 having a tapered wall 74 which at its end 75 approaches the diameter of the outer surface of shaft tube 64.

When it is desired to adjust the length of the shaft, slidable tube 73 can be moved to the right sufiiciently far to uncover set screw 66. At this time, shaft 67 can be moved inwardly or outwardly relative to plug 65 until it is at the desired point. Then the set screw 66 can be tightened and the tube 73 slid to the left until the end thereof abuts the shoulder 70 of collar .69. The tube 63 then will stay in place by friction, which can hefurnished by .O-ring 69A or similar means. When the rotatable shaft 64 is turned, the carrier means Willmove on shaft and the telescopic tube 73 as for a solid shaft.

The carriersareeasily removable in the space between 5 the left end of tube 73 (Figure 7) and the collar 69 when the tube 73 is moved to the right.

The frames of the carriers also may be made by casting or moulding of metal or plastic. The plugs 33 (Figure 1) preferably should be of a self-lubricating type such as an oil retaining porous metal. The bearing or bushing 54 (Figure 3) also preferably should be made of material similar to plugs 33. Such construction is desirable so as to provide the proper lubrication between the hanger and the rotating shaft means. as a spacer for its plugs.

By the use of the invention herein employing a plurality of shaft sections, the rotatable shaft is rigidly maintained in alignment because of the hanger arrangement described. 1

The shaft will maintain its alignment regardless of the weight passing over various sections thereof. The hanger 38 (Figures 1, 2) is illustrated as being below bracket 39 but can be mounted on top thereof and the shank may be vertical or at an angle to correspond with the opening in the carrier. Figures 8 to 10 inclusive illustrate one half of a traverse, the other half having its carriers arranged to move in a direction opposite to that of the carriers in Figures 8 to 10 upon rotation of the shaft.

Stub shaft 35 (Figures 1, 2) or 49 (Figure 3) preferably is made with a loose fit or with sufficient clearance relative to the plugs 33 so that any misalignment will be compensated and the hanger not unnecessarily loaded because of said misalignment.

Some aspects of the invention may be used for various purposes. The hangers and carriers, for example, can be used in the transportation of material carried by the carriers. It is to be understood that various details of the invention can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a material traversing mechanism, the combination The bushing 54 also can serve including a rotatable shaft having a plurality of portions of substantially the same diameter with an annular recess to receive a shaft support, carrier means freely suspendable from said shaft and having an opening at its upper portion, rotatable carrier driving means on said carrier means mounted on an axis thereon of less than 90 and greater than 0 relative to the axis of said shaft, said carrier means moving along said shaft as the shaft is rotated, shaft support means in said annular recess, said support means having an outwardly extending portion connected to a fixed support surface, said recess being of a width such that said driving means will pass from one side of said recess to the other without leaving both sides at the same time, the opening at the top of the carrier means passing said outwardly extending portion and means to rotate said shaft, said carrier driving means being in frictional driving contact with said shaft and slipping relative thereto when positively stopped.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 494,767 Wagner Apr. 4, 1893 715,448 Willson Dec. 9, 1902 797,360 Kadlowec Aug. 15, 1905 1,328,983 Coates Jan. 27, 1920 2,147,878 Burmeister Feb. 21, 1939 2,204,638 Weathers June 18, 1940 2,206,373 Stieber July 2, 1940 2,215,678 Weathers Sept. 24, 1940 2,454,179 Hudkins Nov. 16, 1948 2,538,755 Bradley Jan. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 540,858 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1941 

